BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – July tends to be one of the busiest months for passengers at Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport and other airports across the country.
Those leaving on Saturday had to arrive a little earlier than usual to ensure they caught their flight on time.
The sound of luggage wheels and brief chatter among passengers filled Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport on Saturday.
Lines of people formed around the terminal, waiting to be checked in by the TSA.
ECP airport officials, during the peak summer season, ask passengers to arrive at the airport three hours before departure time.
“Airport officials recommend that passengers traveling during this summer season, if traveling on a weekend, arrive at least 3 hours before departure time,” said Katie Spillman, ECP airport public relations advisor.
Spillman says those requests apply mostly to weekends.
“And if you are traveling on a normal weekday, during the summer season, encourage passengers to arrive about 2 hours before their departure, allowing enough time to park, get to the terminal and of course, get through the TSA checkpoint,” Spillman said.
Airport officials say the early arrival also applies to those using TSA Pre-Check. More than 200,000 passengers passed through ECP last month and can expect many more this month.
“We continue to see strong numbers in July as well,” Spillman added.
A father-daughter duo arrived from Georgia and were waiting in the terminal to pick up a family member.
“I picked up a sister-in-law who was coming from Austin, Texas. I was going from one hot part of the country to another hot part of the country,” said passenger Rick Massey.
The Masseys say that despite the long lines, airport staff are moving along quite well.
“I’m coming from Atlanta, the big airport in Los Angeles. It’s busy, but what about an hour wait? It’s not great, but hey, they’re doing well with the holiday weekend,” said passengers Abby and Rick Massey.
Another passenger was making a special delivery to New York.
Dog breeder Kate Burch arrived at the airport Saturday morning with a poodle named Drake.
“So Drake is a standard poodle. We actually raise standard poodles as well as golden doodles. We have a farm with no sheep, no chickens, no anything like that. They all live on our property. So we’re not like your typical kennels,” said Kate Burch, owner of Nokoluma Farm.
Drake was able to meet his new owner and they flew to the Big Apple later that evening.
“It’s amazing. In fact, a lot of our pets end up becoming service dogs. So we look for dogs with that temperament and we know they’ll find loving homes,” Burch said.
Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport TSA can only screen 450 to 500 passengers per hour.
